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OneLife Adventure, 2 Minstrel Gardens, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8DD, United Kingdom
Mobile +44 7776 140626 [email protected]
OneLife Adventure’s newsletter brings you trip reports, equipment reviews, travellers tales and topical news from the world of vehicle dependant expedition travel.
Firstly, may we take this opportunity to wish all our friends a Happy Christmas and a very Prosperous New Year.
V Vi ie ew w f fr ro om m t th he e d dr ri iv ve er rs s s se ea at t
So what have we been up to in 2006 and what exciting things are in store for 2007.
As many of you know, we started 2006 with a 5 month expedition through West Africa, starting in Mauritania the first UK company to lead 4x4 expeditions to this exciting destination. From there, we continued into Senegal, Mali, Niger and Chad before heading south to Cameroon and beyond. For those of you who’d like to know more about the trip, you can find trips reports and lots of photos on our website.
In August, we returned to Iceland and for the second year running, blue skies and brilliant sunshine showed this fantastic destination at it's very best. Icebergs reflected a million suns as they slowly made their way to the sea, geysers performed on command and double rainbows danced above majestic waterfalls.
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone that came to see us at Billing in July – and helped to hold everything down when the tornado hit.
So what’s in store for 2007…. We return to some of our favourite destinations such as the Pyrenees, Morocco, Tunisia and our ever popular UK weekends. But we’re also going to some new and exciting destinations…Britanny, Libya, Algeria and Romania. And to kick off 2007, we’ll be escaping the cold, dark winter days and heading for Tunisia – come and join us. Details of all the trips are available on our website
N Ne ew w A Ar rr ri iv va al ls s
As many of you will have met Ashley and Jo Carr on one of our Welsh weekends, we’re pleased to tell you that they have a new arrival in their household, Lucy Josephine Carr, born 19th May 2006.
But why are we really telling you – well unless anyone knows anything to the contrary, it seems that Lucy is the first baby to be conceived, in a roof tent, on a OneLife weekend ! Not only that, she was conceived on our August Bank Holiday Weekend on one of our favourite campsites, affectionately termed Sheep Shit Hill.
Ash says that Lucy loves being outdoors, and is fascinated by sheep…..!!! Congratulations to them both and best wishes to Ash, Jo, Hannah and Lucy
… …. .a an nd d R Re et ti ir re em me en nt ts s
As many of you may remember from our last newsletter, we’ve gone to the dark side and bought a Toyota Land Cruiser. Sadly, this means we need to say goodbye to the Camel. So if anyone knows of a good home, please contact us for more details.
GENUINE CAMEL TROPHY P239 KAC – Land Rover 110 Defender 1997 Mongolian
medical/support vehicle
Issue 3a Q4 2006
OneLife Adventure, 2 Minstrel Gardens, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8DD, United Kingdom
Mobile +44 7776 140626 [email protected]
C Cl li im ma at te e C Ch ha an ng ge e
C Ca an n y yo ou u d dr ri iv ve e a a 4 4x x4 4 a an nd d b be e g gr re ee en n a at t t th he e s sa am me e t ti im me e? ?
Sir Nicholas Stern has presented his report on the economic impact of climate change, so leaving aside Ken Livingstone and Richmonds Councils less than scientific attempts to remove 4x4’s from our roads, we ask ‘is it possible to enjoy travelling with your vehicle but do so in an environmentally responsible way?’
Key points from the Stern Report
• All countries will be affected by climate change, but the poorest countries will suffer earliest and most.
• Global warming of 30C or 40C will result in many millions more people being flooded. By the middle of the century, 200 million people may be permanently displaced due to rising sea levels, heavier floods and drought.
• Global warming of 40C or more is likely to seriously affect global food production.
• Global warming of 20C could leave 1540% species facing extinction.
• Deforestation is responsible for more emissions than the transport sector.
So without a doubt, the habits of consuming nations will impact strongly on those countries which are economically less able. A rising concern over sustainability and environmental impact in our consuming countries must be harnessed into positive and urgent action, by our Governments and ourselves.
The report goes on to recommend large global initiatives, such as
• Carbon pricing, via taxation, emission trading or regulation, will show people the full social costs of their actions.
• Globally, support for energy research and development should at least double; support for the deployment of lowcarbon technologies should be increased by up to five times.
• International programme’s exploring the best ways to curb deforestation should be started very quickly.
• Climate change should be fully integrated into development policy, and rich countries should honour pledges to increase support through overseas development assistance.
Sounds great, all these big aims but what can you do, as an individual to reduce the impact you have when travelling with a 4x4?
Firstly consider what you leave behind you, no, not whether to ski or not ( SKI – spend kids inheritance ! ) but before you leave home on your expedition –
• Run the freezer down to empty and switch it off (there’s plenty of food in the supermarket for when you get back).
• don’t leave things on standby switch off the computer, CD/DVD player and television off at the wall.
• if you leave lights and radios on as a deterrent to wouldbe thieves fit low energy light bulbs and a time switch.
• or switch everything off, join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and let you neighbours know you are away.
• When you get back, wash all those dusty clothes at 30 oC instead of 40oC.
A new approach is to join a carbon trading scheme where, for example, you fund environmentally responsible timber management projects with an replanting policy or the development of renewable clean biofuel projects in less developed industrial nations. Want to know more ? then click onto www.targetneutral.com. There’s a handy calculator on the site, and we discovered our Toyota will produce about 26 tonnes of CO2 in 2007 but by donating £126 to sustainable projects we can offset the environmental impact of J411 MHC.
B Bu ut t s su ur re el ly y t th he e b be es st t t th hi in ng g w we e c ca an n d do o i is s s st ta ay y a at t h ho om me e a an nd d n no ot t d dr ri iv ve e t th he e c ca ar r ? ?
Well, in theory it sounds good but it’s a red herring, a bit like increasing fuel taxation to limit vehicle use which has historically lined governments coffers, who don’t have a strong track record of funding positive climate change projects. You have to consider the very first point raised by Stern all countries will be affected by climate change, but the poorest countries will suffer earliest and most.
These countries simply do not have the resources to combat the impact of their fledgling economies, and the often dirty production methods they use, on the environment – its seen as important but a luxury they cannot afford and hence they look to the developed nations for a lead here. Funding projects is one way, but by travelling to these countries and spending your money within their economies you bring two things. Firstly, foreign money growth into their economy and secondly, your knowledge and suggestions of how they can help protect their environment. Don’t bring T shirts as gifts, don’t use plastic bags when shopping, how about bringing low energy light bulbs, use a woven palm frond bag when shopping (a Moroccan speciality) or a cash donations to local projects to irrigate crops or produce renewable bio crops for fuel.
So yes, most definitely, you can contribute to reducing the impact of climate change and enjoy travel with your vehicle, firstly by conserving energy while you are away, secondly by helping fund renewable resource projects across the world and thirdly by contributing cash and ideas into the cultures you visit with OneLife Adventure.
We will also be challenging our suppliers as to what they are doing to help protect our world in 2007 – we’ll update you in further editions of Makin’ Tracks but in the interrim join us, find out how much CO 2 you will produce in 2007 and donate to a project to offset your emissions.
OneLife Adventure, 2 Minstrel Gardens, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8DD, United Kingdom
Mobile +44 7776 140626 [email protected]
F Fe es st ti iv ve e T Tr ri iv vi ia a
Who was Father Christmas ?
Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modernday Turkey) in the 4th century AD.
He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in a stocking that a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings !
Christmas Decorations
The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as it was one of the main plants that flourished at that time of year
Christmas Cards
The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Britain in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries
began.
Boxing Day
This word comes from the custom which started in the Middle Ages around 800 years ago: churches would open their 'alms boxe' (boxes in which people had placed gifts of money) and distribute the contents to poor people in the neighbourhood on the day after Christmas.
Giving Presents at Christmas
The custom of giftgiving on Christmas dates only to Victorian times. Before then it was more common to exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night.
C Ch hr ri is st tm ma as s a ar ro ou un nd d t th he e w wo or rl ld d
In China Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns.
In Denmark Everyone looks forward to dessert when a special rice pudding is served in which a single almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck for the coming year.
In Germany On Christmas Day, carp or goose will be cooked.
In India In India, they decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Sometimes they also decorate their houses with mango leaves.
In Iraq On Christmas Eve, Iraqi Christian families gather together and one of the children read about the birth of Jesus while other family members hold lighted candles.
In Iran Iran, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise men are believed to have lived when Jesus was born.
In Romania The tradition in Romania is for children to travel from house to house singing carols and reciting poetry and legends throughout the Christmas season.
In Spain Christmas dinner is never eaten until after midnight.
In Wales Caroling is particularly popular in Wales where it is called eisteddfodde and is often accompanied by a harp. In some rural areas a villager is chosen to be the Mari llwyd. This person travels around the town draped in white and carrying a horse's skull on a long pole. Anyone given the "bite" by the horse's jaws must pay a fine.
‘A Ac cc ce es ss s t th he e W Wo or rl ld d’ ’ C Ch ha ar ri it ty y B Ba al ll l
In April 2006 a charity ball ‘Access the World’ was held in Birmingham. The ball raised a massive £60,000 for Penn Hall School, a school in Wolverhampton which provides a specialist programme for children with physical disabilities and associated communication/sensory impairment. The good news for the school is that they will also receive match funding from the government as a capital grant.
OneLife Adventure were proud to support the event and donated a prize for the event auction, a seat in our support vehicle on the High Atlas Explorer, September 2006. The generous winning bid by Lance Slater raised £3,000 for the charity. Lance joined us in Morocco and enjoyed the experience so much he is now planning to buy his own 4x4 and travel further with us.
OneLife Adventure, 2 Minstrel Gardens, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8DD, United Kingdom
Mobile +44 7776 140626 [email protected]
O On ne eL Li if fe e A Ad dv ve en nt tu ur re e D Di ia ar ry y 2 20 00 07 7
17 th Feb to 5 th March Maghreb Explorer
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa – but Tunisia packs a lot in. It is a truly kaleidoscopic nation, ranging from Mediterranean beaches to the Sahara desert, from ancient souks to Star Wars film sets
24 th Mar to 8 th April & 9 th to 24 th Sept High Atlas Explorer
Morocco – our nearest neighbour, in the most fascinating continent in the world timeless Africa. Morocco provides a superb introduction to the exciting culture and varied scenery of North Africa. While many rush south we take the slow track to find the real Morocco – its diverse and ancient cultures, its great plains, deserts and soaring mountains
11 th to 22 nd June & 6 th to 17 th Aug
Pyrenees Explorer
The Spanish Pyrenees are the least visited part of the dramatic Pyrenean Mountains guarding the border between France and Spain. The whole region is immensely beautiful thickly forested foothills, secret plunging valleys and soaring snow capped mountains make for some of the best mountain driving in Europe
29 th July to 4 th Aug Breton Explorer
Brittany you are very aware of the passing of time here. The rocks themselves emerged from an ancient sea 500 million years ago, once higher than the Alps but worn to mere 400m bulges, they now form the wolf shaped peninsular snarling at the Atlantic waves
For more information or to make a booking, call us or visit our website
www.onelifeadventure.co.uk
4 th to 19 th Sept Transylvanian Explorer
Romania this little visited country, poised to enter the European Union this year, seems little changed from the Middle Ages. Bears and wolves roam its woods and mountains, buffalo bask in warm valleys while eagles and vultures soar above its glistening schist peaks
22 nd Nov to 17 th Dec Hogar and Tissili Explorer
Algeria is the Sahara…. It covers more than 80% of the country and with 90 percent of Algerians living along the northern coast on 12 percent of the country's land, it leaves a lot of sand and rock for us to explore!
20 th Dec to 10 th Jan 08 Fezzan Explorer
Libya misunderstood, isolated, barren, home to mad dogs ! …… This is what many think when Libya is mentioned but they are very wrong vast breathtaking desert vistas are our backdrop to this stunning country
Welsh Explorers 2007
10 th and 11 th Mar 20 th and 21 st April 26 th , 27 th , 28 th May 7 th and 8 th July 25 th , 26 th , 27 th Aug 29 th and 30 th Sept 10 th and 11 th Nov
These popular, UK based mini expeditions will take you into some of the most remote and beautiful areas of Wales.
We look forward to seeing you in 2007 Bye for now
Paul Anne If you have any comments or don’t wish to receive this newsletter, please email us: [email protected]
